A Pastoral Word To Sumter, Clarendon, and Lee Counties

It has been a crazy few days in our community. Nineteen inches of rain. Flooding. Evacuations. Road closures. Finally, the rains seem to be stopping and the water is going down. Hopefully the worst is behind us.

Please let me offer these gentle thoughts:

Some of you have lost material possessions. I am sorry for your loss. I know this represents a significant financial burden for you. If we as a church can help, we want to. Be wise in your decisions.

Some of you have lost nothing. This has been an inconvenient time, but not a time of loss. Please be sensitive to your neighbors. Help when you can. Encourage each other.

People will ask, and rightly so, “why did this happen?” There is no single answer. We are told God sends rain on the just and on the unjust. This flooding is not necessarily a sign of judgment on our counties. God is allowing this flooding within the scope of His plans for us and His will for this world. Some of the tragedies have happened because people have shown poor judgment. People drove through high water instead of turning around. People built or bought homes in low places where homes should have never been built. Roads and bridges were built in places where they should not have been built. We too often assume disaster won’t happen to us. We’re wrong.

We are not alone. Claim Isaiah 43:2: When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. Ask God to guide you with decisions and comfort you in moments of difficulty. Let church be your family.